Exploring a Former Sears Store

(11-28-20) Today I was given the amazing opportunity to explore the former Sears store at Chesterfield mall. This store opened in 1976, and closed down in late 2018. This tour takes you through both floors of the store with looks into some of the former storage and stock rooms. We also take a close look at the elevators and machine rooms. Both elevators have been turned off, so we do not get a ride on them.
I want to give a huge thanks to the people involved in allowing this tour to happen. Also, this tour was done with permission so do not enter a place like this unauthorized.
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[@Youngstown529]

A closed retail store is so sad. As a child of the 1970s, i remember that Sears was the go to place for clothing, shoes, appliances, car repairs, family photos, kitchen goods, furniture, curtains and more. Incredible how fast such an icon failed and fell apart.

[@gobbletegook]

Even as close as 2006, Sears (And KMART) had 355,000 employees!

[@NathanDavisVideos]

Well you can thank mister "Fast Eddie" Lambert for this! (Greedy asshole...)

[@kalaniotsuka-jq9wl]

Sears was the best store ever I remember in early October there Christmas decorations go up I was always looking forward to this to see what new Christmas decorations came out that year

[@vintagetoiletstexas2443]

I love exploring old retail stores

[@stlelevators]

Same here.

[@joejeanettegleason8693]

My Grandmother moved from Sears downtown store to Westgate when it opened to run the domestics department until she retired. I worked in the electrical department in 1970-71. Friends from high school worked there too and we had a great time. Thanks for the memories.

[@ProspectElevators]

Fantastic presentation my friend!

[@stlelevators]

Thanks!

[@ProspectElevators]

@@stlelevators You welcome

[@nomoresayingcusswordsjk612]

I KNEW IT THE BACKROOM PICTURES CAME FROM SEARS

[@kalaniotsuka-jq9wl]

I loved sears I grew up with sears from there 90s to the early 2000sears Christmas shops were the bomb everything from Christmas lights that play Christmas music to snoring animated Santa's to mr Christmas musical carousel I loved sears ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@statecollegewx4060]

I really love exploring old stores

[@stlelevators]

Me too

[@statecollegewx4060]

@@stlelevators you always find interesting things in them

[@icecolespears]

I like your Outro music it reminds me of Wii Sports Music

[@clickr73]

Thank you for your footage! Saves me a trip And a headache trying to find the photo studio! I once remember it to being in the clothes level next to the layaway department. (8:00). I hate to see the mall fall, but that’s the way of the times, hopefully they’ll have something to remember the old complex for in the new complex. I heard something about the old Sears auto being saved for “Capehart”??

[@gobbletegook]

A friend of mine had a kid that worked at a Sears (Southridge Mall Greendale WI) store. Shortly before it closed in 2017, we were talking about that mall, and he always wondered why there were so many stainless steel sinks in the back rooms near the parking lot. Well, long before food courts in the 1980's started happening, they had a very good cafeteria that you entered from at the parking lot levels at most stores. And they were big! Decent food too, from hamburgers to steaks and those blue plate specials...but so few people remember or know about them. I was hoping to see if any of that equipment was left there in your video. The restaurant space later became the areas for things like lawn mowers, patio items, and a garden center.

[@youtubeuser7082]

The Entire mall building is about to close permanently for demolition please also do a mall tour beforehand if you haven't already

[@stlelevators]

There’s not much to see anymore

[@youtubeuser7082]

@@stlelevators ok there is now 11 Sears remaining in the United States of America United States (11) California Burbank - Burbank Town Center (reopened store) Concord - Sunvalley Mall Stockton - Weberstown Mall Whittier - Whittwood Town Center Florida Coral Gables - Stand-alone store; not attached to a mall Orlando - The Florida Mall Massachusetts Braintree - South Shore Plaza Puerto Rico Plaza Las Américas, Hato Rey, San Juan Texas El Paso - Cielo Vista Mall Washington Tukwila - Westfield Southcenter Union Gap - Valley Mall (reopened store) If You can able to explore the Sears in Washington and California as well

[@AlecRoth-id8fp]

Great video Jason! You should do more of these but with permission!

[@stlelevators]

Anytime I get a chance like this, I definitely go for it.

[@georgewills-ek1gg]

6:44. looks like someone really wanted that troffer!

[@ERA_Productions]

Awesome job man

[@stlelevators]

Thanks!

[@mrmikeflo11]

Great Video

[@stlelevators]

Thanks!

[@conrad1478]

My father grew up in Chesterfield and frequented this store- he said it used to have an arcade and a candy shop

[@stlelevators]

Wow, that's cool!

[@SuperVictor64]

My guy be exploring the backrooms! (the building looks like a backrooms level)

[@funniguygames]

The og backrooms image was taken in an old sears

[@JoshSmith-me7oe]

The Sears in my hometown in Columbus closed just last year, at Polaris Fashion Place Mall. It had the cool design of a Schindler center glass elevator in the atrium with escalators, and another elevator in the rear of the store. It’s abandoned but would love to go back in.

[@stlelevators]

That's just how South County Mall was.

[@jamesmonroe7903]

This was a very busy store for a lotta years-before it opened in 1976 lotsa folks in the West STL County area went to Crestwood Plaza because of Sears! They couldn’t wait for their own Sears!!!

[@stlelevators]

It's sad that Crestwood is now gone. :(

[@jamesmonroe7903]

@@stlelevators It sure is! Crestwood was a great place to shop-and even more so during this time of year! They got ULTRA busy at the Ultra Mall years ago!!!

[@DalmationProductions]

"Nothing Lasts Forever"

[@stlelevators]

Nope :(

[@boiii3productions945]

It needs to be bought out by another store company (target for example) and the elevators need to be inspected

[@DAVIDSRETAILADVENTURES]

Awesome video

[@stlelevators]

Thanks!

[@MasonColemanWright1234]

My Sears closed too

[@stlelevators]

RIP

[@ww1fan-b5h]

Man New Backrooms Level

[@retroryan838]

You should go to the Sears at the Janesville Mall in Janesville, Wisconsin. The building hasn’t been gutted and has two floors. It also has a cool skylight above the escalators. You should go there before it’s too late.

[@gobbletegook]

The 4 Sears stores attached in big malls in suburban Milwaukee (SOUTHRIDGE, NORTHRIDGE, BROOKFIELD SQUARE and BAYSHORE were all demolished and/or sold for other things. I am surprised that the property went to other things here so fast after closing...although those malls are still semi-functional or re-imagined. I wonder if SEARS owned them and made profit on the sales...or if it was owned by developers

[@retroryan838]

I’m sad the Sears at Southridge and Brookfield Square don’t exist anymore. They had pretty interesting exteriors.

[@islandcityelevandesc]

Woah that's awesome

[@stlelevators]

Thanks!

[@islandcityelevandesc]

@@stlelevators no problem!

[@iamthekittycat]

This looks like… the backrooms 4:02 its level 14 and level 1 at the same time

[@therainbowelephantofficial9510]

We found the real Backrooms!

[@System6VideoProductions]

Oh nice!

[@stlelevators]

Thanks!

[@Blackcomb6.1]

Your underrated! You need more attention.

[@stlelevators]

Haha, thanks!

[@Blackcomb6.1]

@@stlelevators ^^

[@dantowns7546]

The loud buzzing sound was from a transformer most likely to convert 480v (escalators/elevators and HVAC) to 120v (outlets computers etc)

[@stlelevators]

Yep!

[@Puppycorn1379]

The former Sears store, Chesterfield mall Missouri. This store opened up at 1976 and closed down late 2018 onto 2020. 0:12

[@ElevatorsOfTennessee]

I love your intro lol

[@stlelevators]

Thanks

[@CarwashReviewsFlorida]

How did it feel being inside of there? Anyways great video, love the music it's so catchy! Love the soundtracks you use.

[@stlelevators]

It was really cool. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CarwashReviewsFlorida]

@@stlelevators I wanted to ask you, what is it you use for soundtracks like the first one that played, the catchy one? I want to find some good tracks like that to use for my showcase/promotional video on another channel I've got.

[@deb9999]

I LOVE SEARS

[@slade2381]

My Sears at Lakeline mall instead of the entrance just being gated like yours, they literally built a wall over the entrance. And I didn’t know it for YEARS, that store will likely never get open again

[@stlelevators]

I've seen that happen at some malls.

[@user-bigpandarocks2007]

My Freind GRM Adventures AKA Griffins Retail mall He Actually came here 2018. To flimed during closing time. On Sep 2 2018 The chesterfield sears closed and GRM when live.

[@telesniper2]

Never understood why they don't convert Dead Malls into classy office space and data centers. Especially since you could revive at least some of the food courts to provide services to the new office workers (looks like Ford did just that in Dearborn). Another idea (one that's been implemented) is to put satellite campuses or community colleges in there.

[@kellyc1513]

ONE OF THE BACKROOMS PHOTOS!!! 5:45

[@iamthekittycat]

4:02 level 14 (boundless retail)

[@mikeygarcia8748]

Can you do the inside of the former dillards store and take a tour there too?

[@justinzeid212]

I wish you had gone into the auto repair shop on the lower level to see what that's looking like. I took my car there a few times so I could walk around the mall (when there was still stuff in it) while my car was being worked on.

[@stlelevators]

There’s a skate shop in the repair shop now.

[@toyabrown2617]

I used to work at Sears

[@kittyboochanyesbongono8467]

Enjoy Exploring Former Sears Store

[@Carman1744]

I saw two different video tours of that same store for two other people

[@TotosSword]

Wow

[@paulchen9145]

0:54 why is nobody talking about how this looks so much like the backrooms? It could actually be that the original photo that was posted on 4chan was some random Sears backroom and we would never know...

[@stlelevators]

Haha it totally does look like it.

[@hammerhead_elevators3613]

Really sad and interesting

[@stlelevators]

I remember shopping in this store.

[@MJT777X]

I miss Sears. I would see that every time I go to malls. Now all of them are disappearing. I wonder what will happen to the Sears Tower though… What is amazing is when it’s abandoned, it gives a similar picture to that big fictional maze by a 4channer, *Backrooms*

[@stlelevators]

All of the Sears stores I used to go to are all closed up. It's sad.

[@MJT777X]

@@stlelevators 🙁

[@MJT777X]

@@stlelevators also, what a quick response

[@johnoconnor4019]

How did you get a chance to film this closed store tour?

[@stlelevators]

I know someone who rents a small part of the store that let me do this.

[@johnoconnor4019]

STL Elevators How did they let you do it?

[@user-bigpandarocks2007]

Grm Adventures Know more about chesterfield mall and this sears

[@realzacharykool9378]

HOW DID YOU GET IN!!!!

[@ECFE]

I'm aware that this was over two years ago and the freight elevator had a door issue, but to get the freight to run, you couldn't have shut off the power to the doors?

[@stlelevators]

Inner gate was jammed open

[@ECFE]

Big sad...

[@georgegriviski3288]

1 of those "rooms" has got to be where people get "INTERVIEWED" whether for good or bad situations........

[@mitchellarmstrong3759]

If the cab on the passenger elevator sunk and the interlock reset, would a drop key not work?

[@stlelevators]

you could get it open

[@mitchellarmstrong3759]

@@stlelevators Ah, OK. From what you mentioned about it sinking I thought it was stuck shut.

[@therainbowelephantofficial9510]

Liminal Spaces at it's finest!

[@mitchellkelly3955]

This seems creepy but cool.

[@stlelevators]

It is a little creepy not gonna lie.

[@vambat3523]

i would be scared to go in a old sears or kmart because its all dark in like closet rooms and storage rooms, i kinda have a feeling that there is some monster hiding but i like seeing them on youtube

[@stlelevators]

If I was a monster that's the last place I'd want to stay. There would be nothing to do lol

[@EASProductionsGaming]

You should put this on premiere

[@stlelevators]

Well, it's already posted :P

[@armorsecsys]

I need to find an older elevator for a house I bought that has an elevator shaft with no car inside. I wonder if I could find an old elevator and just put new hydraulics and safety devices on it.

[@stlelevators]

You'd have to find something that would fit in the existing shaft, or if you are handy enough, build your own.

[@Jamestube8439]

5:55 those most likely are fitting rooms.

[@stlelevators]

I don't think those were.

[@colincharmley5054]

Maybe they were bathrooms or small kitchens?

[@jonathancreveling5658]

Aside from the repair shop being turned into a skate shop, what's the main building becoming?

[@stlelevators]

A pile of rubble

[@drew_barringhaus5316]

The company I work for currently leases out the majority of the space for warehouse needs.

[@edwardwagner2277]

Just like Parkrill sears

[@FranzFerdinandVIII]

*11:37* likely a Notifier bg-6 pull station. 21.Dec.2020

[@stlelevators]

Neat. I don’t know fire alarms that well.

[@tmagico6674]

18:42 the backrooms level 0 on the left side ? 😱😱😱

[@mrmikeflo11]

Did that Sears have an automotive Department?

[@stlelevators]

Yes

[@PlanetEscalators]

How did you manage to get in there?

[@stlelevators]

I knew someone

[@PlanetEscalators]

@@stlelevators of that’s cool

[@noah95748]

welcome to be backrooms

[@stlelevators]

It was so cool to explore them too.

[@jzban1067]

i thought it said exploding sears 😂

[@stlelevators]

hahaha

[@waptek2]

4:20 we saw what you did there

[@stlelevators]

What?

[@Tracy-tree20]

Can you explore in a abondoned sears but in mall of america located in Bloomington mn

[@stlelevators]

If someone wants to invite me in to do so, yes

[@GUMBALLTHECOOLESTCAT]

@romilopez-ni2hk. How can you go in that store. It’s boarded up. 🤔

[@Tracy-tree20]

Honestly it looks like from Bloomington mn

[@GUMBALLTHECOOLESTCAT]

That’s Bloomington mn?

[@Tracy-tree20]

Yeah dude

[@Ih8kone]

Sadly, this building has since been demolished.

[@stlelevators]

I don’t think it has been yet.

[@vancouverelevators_transit]

mall is demolished now?

[@stlelevators]

No

[@kittyboochanyesbongono8467]

OMG! HOW YOU ARE HERE

[@stlelevators]

I know someone who gave me permission to go in.

[@Scruds]

Hi I Live in Illinois I have been to that store was well when it was still open this mall will be demolished bin 2023

[@stlelevators]

Yep :(

[@Scruds]

@@stlelevators Yes I will miss Sears the store in fairview Heights mall close I went to it on the last day it looked dead I loved that store so did my dad

[@kittyboochanyesbongono8467]

Where Is Bradlees Cor

[@johnoconnor4019]

Why did you want to tour this closed store?

[@EGM5135]

Remember The SEARS Store With The Glass Elevator What Mall Is That In

[@stlelevators]

That was South County.

[@EGM5135]

The SEARS At St Louis Park Mall Has One To

[@stlelevators]

St. Louis Park Mall?

[@EGM5135]

That SEARS At St Louis Park Mall Closed in March of 2021

[@stlelevators]

@@EGM5135What's St Louis Park mall?

[@patricksaxon3983]

Sadly, department stores are becoming a thing of the past. Even as the internet has taken over retail sales, Walmart remains the number one retailer in America.

[@stlelevators]

It's sad. There's something fun about going into the store and looking around.

[@gobbletegook]

@@stlelevators Retail therapy. But for me, its touch, feel, then put back. I am poor! LOL!

[@elevcarwashsirensandmore21]

Looks very disappointing but cool exploring that. However, you shouldn't explore abandoned buildings alone

[@stlelevators]

It wasn't totally abandoned. Just vacant.

[@elevcarwashsirensandmore21]

@@stlelevators It would probably be smashed and tor apart if it was abandoned

[@kittyboochanyesbongono8467]

Why Do Not Go To The Place Unauthorized? :'(

[@mitchellarmstrong3759]

That's considered trespassing. If the wrong person caught you snooping around, you could end up jail or be faced with other legal consequences.

[@user-pu2ho4ip3d]

Tear it all down reclaimed land.

[@stlelevators]

That's the plan.

[@cathbeck6643]

I think it will be turning into the sports hall

[@stlelevators]

What makes you say that?

[@Scruds]

In 2023

[@ethanaerni8938]

Rename: STLevators

[@Doomzdayxx]

So depressing.

[@stlelevators]

Very.

[@2dustinjayguest]

Did u get to see the store loss povention roo,m

[@tflelevators3104]

Now this is awesome! I've always wanted to explore an old Sears retail store. Whom would I ask to get permission?

[@stlelevators]

Honestly depends on the situation. I got into this store through someone I know.

[@tflelevators3104]

@@stlelevators oh nice

[@noxious_nights]

You'd probably have to ask the owner of the property it's on